In our new modern world, much has changed. We are more connected and more mobile, working anywhere we need to. And with the emergence of the sharing economy we are letting others drive us and staying in other people’s homes. This impacts a lot of things in our lives, but one major input is that “​Making a statement about who you are in a digital, shared world” is very different. Take a look at this post and think about it. How do you share who you are?

Not a lot of people have the same advantage that I do, I have a profession that I really like. Being an engineer is fascinating and a true pleasure because engineering is hard, and when smart people do it right it is so interesting and exciting. It is about the process and figuring stuff out – like a solving good puzzle, but better. Learn more about why I like what I do in “Taking time to be thankful for being able to do this engineering thing“

I don’t like clickbait. It undermines the trust between information provider and consumer, and I think it needs to stop. Take a look at “You will be shocked when you read what this technology expert has to say” where I go on a bit more and channel my inner Andy Rooney. Id does also include some recommendations on how we as content users can make a difference.

We have all been there. You get back from vacation and you have eight hundred unread emails. For a lot of us we never actually make our way through them all. In “4 simple suggestions to deal with all those unread emails” I cover some ways to get through that pile and get back to being productive. If you like it… don’t email me.

It is an earned privilege for older generations to make fun of younger ones. And my generation loves to bemoan those damn “Millennials!” with their phones, their laziness, and their sense of entitlement. But in reality they are just different and good business people know how to make different work for them. I explore how to take advantage of that in “Millennials in tech: Turning what makes them different into an advantage” This is our third guest blog post for the Silicon Desert insider portion of the AZ Business Magazine.

I am sick and tired of cyber security fear mongers hijacking so many technical discussion. Even meetings on STEM education seem to always devolve into a discussion on CyberSecurity. The last time this happened to me it reminded me of what it was like back in 1998 and 1999 when IT Consultants were spreading fear in order to charge huge fees to solve problems with the Y2K that many programs had. So I asked the question “​Is ‘cybersecurity’ the Y2K of this generation?” and if the hysteria being spread is actually bad for solving these real and serious problems.

I’m an engineer. If pushed I will tell you that function should dominate design and that spending time and resources on aesthetics or styling is a waste of money. But a little voice in my head would be screaming “No! Wrong!” because there is value in the visual beauty of something. Nowhere is that truer than in architecture

Everyone has adjusted to the fact that these days products are manufactured and sold globally. What many companies have not accepted, is that fact that the product development process is also global. If you don’t accept that and adjust, your competition will. “Developing a product in a global market” goes over the basics to successfully leveraging global resources to develop new products.

Ten years ago PADT, deposited $1,000 into an online service called Kiva. Kiva makes small loans to people all around the world. We just made our 100’th investment, bringing us to $7,900 lent to different businesses in 40 different countries around the world. Take a look at “Using small amounts of capital to make a big difference with microloans” to learn more about how you or your company can make a real difference in people’s lives.

It is hard to keep up with all the news you need to know, and easy to fall into the trap of picking one online news source. But there is an answer, subscribing to RSS feeds is how I get the headlines from a dozen different sources, all in one place. I go over the ins and outs of this technology in “It’s time to take control of your newsfeed, leverage RSS feeds“

The world of 3-D printing is changing fast. New materials are announced and new systems are proposed almost every month. And as with any fast-growing technology, there is a lot of hype. When something is announced it will get a lot of press and attention, but what do you really need to know to follow the industry? In “Five 3-D printing breakthroughs everyone needs to know about” I take a look at the changes that should have the most impact on product development.

Reaching a high number of contacts on social media is one of those modern accomplishments that is not as simple as it appears. In “​3000 connections on LinkedIn: Celebrate or so what?” I talk about my reaching such a threshold, and then what that really means for business. The connection you make, although superficial and weak, have impact. In my opinion, it’s a good thing. Read it and see what you think.

I was honored to be asked to join Santari Minor and George Grombacher for episode 31 of their podcast: Figure it Out. It was wide ranging and fun conversation that flowed across so many different and interesting topics, it was hard to stop. We covered 3D printing, automation, artificial intelligence and the future of work. Made me think. Take a listen and maybe it will make you think.